There has been a void atop the Cadillac hierarchy since the demise of the STS and DTS. GM has filled that hole with the 2013 XTS. The Canadian-built newcomer is in showrooms now.

The newest Cadillac shares its Epsilon platform with the new Chevrolet Malibu and Buick Lacrosse and while not as big as the Broughams, Fleetwoods and DeVilles of the past, nothing is – thankfully!

At more than five metres in length, the XTS is clearly a big Caddy. About the same length as the monstrous truck-based Escalade SUV it is 25 cm longer than the CTS and 50 cm longer than the most recent addition to the Cadillac lineup, the ATS.

Visually there is little doubt you are looking at a Cadillac. Boasting vertical head and taillights like others wearing the wreath and crest logo, the XTS displays the latest iteration of Cadillac’s angular design theme. Rounded and gentle has replaced sharp and abrupt surface changes. There is still plenty of bling from the prominent grill to the amount of chrome on display.

With more than 2,800 mm between the front and rear wheels, the XTS is able offer the size of accommodations expected of the brand, especially in the rear seat, where there is more than 100-cm of stretch-out legroom.

The XTS also offers a huge trunk, although access is somewhat restricted by a shallow opening. That space was not achieved at the expense of front seat room. First row occupants have even more legroom – 116 cm!

Since it represents the best GM has to offer, the new XTS is clearly luxurious with an elegant interior that has been exceptionally well crafted. Leather is standard in all trim levels. The front seats are enormous with thigh extenders that will please anyone with long legs.

The XTs also bristles with the latest in technology, although some of the trick stuff has been save for higher trim levels in order to keep the base price (used in advertising) down.

Still, the base model comes with an extensive list of equipment including real wood trim, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather interior, xenon headlights, heated and cooled front seats, Brembo brakes and Magnetic Ride Control with air springs at the rear.

Those big front seats are available with an industry-first technology. The Safety Alert Seat uses 'directional tactile sensation' to warn the driver of potential crash threats – it vibrates under the appropriate butt cheek if you drift out of your lane or toward other vehicles.

The seats are part of aDriver Awareness and Driver Assist package that combines a number of active safety systems including Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The package also includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Collision Preparation, and Front and Rear Automatic Braking Systems.

The XTS is also being used to introduce CUE – the Cadillac User Experience. This system uses an iPhone or iPad-like capacitive touch screen to access multiple layers of information and controls through a giant 20 cm screen. You can scroll or swipe your way to everything from HVAC to audio and navigation.

It has a proximity sensor that brings up information as your fingers approach the screen. When you do make a selection 'haptic feedback' pushes back slightly to let you know it got the message.

Clever, and still in the early stages of development, this is one of the better systems of its type on the market. The XTS is also available with HUD (head up display) and configurable digital display.

The XTS comes with GM’s tried and tested 3.6-litre V6. Modernized through the use of direct injection, the six provide plenty of power and is able to propel the big sedan down the road with little effort and practically no sound.

The six-speed automatic offers the silky shifts expected in this type of automobile. Front wheel drive is standard and all-wheel-drive available for about $2200 on top trim levels.